9781618857958KissMeLikeYouMeanItLeveyNC (10 page)

“Sorry,
I sent Raul home with your things.” He slipped in next to her.

New
York City traffic crawled. She kept her eyes on the scenery rather than
stalking her handsome date in such close proximity. “You know so much about my
family, but I barely know of yours.”

Jackson
turned to her. “You know I came to your house every summer from the time I was
nine to, well after my mom passed for good.”

Carlie
bit her lip and fidgeted with her skirt. One glance at Jackson told her he
enjoyed her discomfort. “I don’t want to cross a boundary.”

“Princess,
you crossed the boundary when you became an unknown house guest.” He nudged her
knee with his and clasped his hand on her thigh.

Ignoring
the arousal spearing through her, she swallowed and turned from his hawkish gaze.
“I’m sorry.”

“My
dad owns hotels and resorts, my mom’s family and I own French restaurants. Sort
of a family business.” He gestured with his hand. “I guess you could say my mom
had grand ideas of marrying for true love, not a business merger.”

“Oh.
Wow. Your dad always seemed a bit harsh but—I’m sorry your parents didn’t have
the relationship mine do.”

“Yeah,
well that’s life.”

“So
how on Earth did you talk him into letting you join the band?”

“After
my mom died, he pretty much let me do what I wanted. I was more of an asshole then.
So yeah, music made me feel better.”

“You
were not an asshole. You were just quieter then, more withdrawn from everyone
else. I’m glad you had my brother and Shea to lean on. I noticed the piano. How
long have you played?”

“Since
maybe three or four years old. I’d sit with my grams and play half songs with
her.” He had a boyish smile on his face recounting the memory.

“Oh,
I thought you might have just tinkered with it or something. I didn’t know you
played anything other than guitar.”

“Princess,
I don’t think I’ve ever…tinkered with anything.”

“So
here’s the real question. Why do you show the world a womanizing asshole who
does nothing but drink and fuck random chicks?

“Sir,
we have arrived. Will you be going in through the back or front entrance?”

“Ah,
saved by the cabbie.”

“Front
door is good. Thank you.”

“I’m
a real fan, sir. Love your music,” the cabbie said.

“Thanks,
I appreciate your support.” He turned to Carlie. “Ready, princess?”

“Yep,
starving. I still want an answer though.”

“I’m
sure you do.” He paid the driver and exited the car, pulling Carlie out after
into his arms.

Chapter Five

The
flash of the cameras startled Carlie. Jackson brought the back of her hand to
his mouth and kissed her skin. After opening the restaurant door, he ushered
her quickly inside. “Good evening, Mr.
Laurant
. Right
this way.” Jackson slipped his arm around her waist and drew her into him.
Carlie sucked in a slight breath with every touch of hip to thigh. The maître d’
led them through the packed house. She peeked at her date who seemed pleased as
punch his place was full of happy customers.

“This
is beautiful. I’ve never been in a restaurant this nice.” She was impressed by
the warm colors and exquisite décor.

“This
was my grandma’s pride and joy. The first thing I did with my money was a total
renovation for her, wanted her to love this place even more.” They entered his
private dining room. Jackson pulled her chair out for her, she sat and he
pushed her in.

“Are
you kidding me?” She grinned as he smoothed down his dress shirt and took a
seat. “This place is fabulous, how could she not?”

“Well,
we were closed down for six weeks. Four more weeks than she wanted. I was on
tour and had to force her to go on vacation, all the while hearing her rail on about
how the regulars were upset and the business was going to go into the red.” He
sighed. “I know she loved going to Europe even though she griped in my ear
every chance she got.”

“I
guess ignoring Grandma’s phone calls didn’t happen.”

“Hell
no. She’d have flown to find me and beat my ass with a switch.”

“I’m
glad she got to see you do the things you love. See your success.”

Their
waiter appeared with a bottle of red wine and their menus. “Good evening, monsieur
and mademoiselle.” He poured their wine and stepped back.

“Evening,”
she responded and opened up her menu. “Um,
Jacksy
, it’s
in French. I took Spanish.”

“Underneath
each section the descriptions are in English.” He winked.

“Oh
smart.”

“Would
you like me to help you?”

“Oh!
I see the vegetarian section. I’m good.” She butchered speaking in French for a
minute, then pouted. “Let’s try English. I’d like the baby pumpkin stuffed with
cucumber, red pepper, and feta in the chardonnay vinaigrette for my appetizer.”

“
Oui
, mademoiselle.”

“Et
tu
, monsieur?”

“I’ll
start with the mushroom
tarte
. Princess, entrée?”

“I
think I’ll have the pasta with fresh black truffles.”

“I’ll
have the bourguignon beef. Thank you.” Jackson collected her menu with his and
handed the two back to the server.

“So
much for steak,” she teased.

“Yeah,
well sometimes a guy changes his mind.”

“So,
where were we?” Carlie sipped her wine and eyed him critically.

“We
were talking about my grandma, your wanting an answer to that question from the
cab.” He took a sip and drummed his thumb on the table. “Yeah, she was proud of
me for accomplishing something that had nothing to do with either side of my
family. I’m grateful, I had time with her after my mom passed. Now about the
other question. There isn’t much of a reason, princess. People make their own
assumptions and run away with their imaginations. I never read what’s posted
outside of our fan boards and interviews.”

“That
is complete and utter crap. I’ve had years to observe you, Jackson
Laurant
.
Years
.”

“Why
do you think then?”

“Okay,
let me put on my therapist hat.” He frowned at her, making her laugh.
“Kidding.”

“Right,”
he groused.

“Look,
I’m banking on the fact that you lost your mom and grandma you don’t trust
anyone, especially now. I know your dad is a big douche. With Crimson Rage
global, trusting anyone is few and far between. Besides the secret fact that
you’re like Bruce from
Batman—
a trust
fund baby and heir to a global fortune. Your bad boy façade is an effective
smoke screen to keep everyone out of your personal life.”

“Perceptive
and not too far off the mark,” he started, but they were interrupted by their
appetizers arriving.

Carlie
fought the blush from rising in her face as he kept his gaze on hers without
speaking a word. She fidgeted with her hands in her lap. A behavior she
couldn’t stop anytime she became uncomfortable.

“Staring
is rude.”

He
took a few bites before saying anything. “So you don’t believe I’m a bad boy?”

“I-um
think you can play the part, but the real you is with me here and now.”

“Hmm,”
he simply replied.

“You
can totally break me down if you like?” She spoke between a bite and sipped her
wine.

Jackson
laid his fork down. “This isn’t a tit-for-tat conversation.”

“What?
Afraid you don’t know me?”

“Princess,
I know you better than you think. I’ve had
years
to get to know you too,” he teased her.

“Then
by all means tell me all about myself.”

“All
right. Remember you asked for it. Stuck in the middle hasn’t been easy for you
all these years. It must’ve been hard growing up with an overprotective brother
and stricter than shit father, and with a twin who’s always been a handful. Then
the arrival of an unexpected baby brother. With all the chaos you chose to be
the good girl. They didn’t see you with all of you so close in age, like a
blind spot, so helping your mom with Jordan and earning perfect grades made you
stand out. When your twin, Carrie, noticed, she acted out more and gained
notoriety. You worked harder, made the honor roll, perfect attendance, all of
those certificates the principals gave out. In return your parents basked you
with praise.”

Carlie
felt a small piece of food go down her windpipe and cleared her throat. Jackson
waited with a worried expression on his handsome face. “I’m good.”

“So,
the downside was the expectations grew. Instead of cutting up and having fun,
you worked so hard you never found a way to cope when disagreements arose.
Trust me, I was around for plenty of those screaming matches when your parents
demanded your sister be more driven like you and less of a problem child. Those
arguments caused a rift between you two for a long time.”

Tight
lipped, she waited on bated breath for him to finish. She wondered if he’d felt
attacked when she told him about himself. She steeled her expressions with a
mask of indifference as the waiter approached and took away their dishes, then
set their entrées down.

“It
must be hard feeling like a stranger in your own body, like you don’t fit in.
Being perfect was all you had and now you’re floundering, trying to piece the
life no one wanted for you back together.”

“Wow,
where did all that come from?” She pursed her lips tight and swallowed the
hurt.

“Years
of observing you when you weren’t looking. Let’s eat.”

They
ate in stony silence. She couldn’t help but think their night may be ruined
completely.

“There
is nothing wrong with striving for perfection.” The words came out of her mouth
more clipped than she’d wanted.

“Hmm.”
She watched him enjoy his food while she pushed hers around and took bird
bites. Jackson looked up at her and pointed to her fork. “Eat.”

“No.”
His breakdown of her hurt, leaving the beautiful meal before her tasteless. Jackson
put his fork down and wiped his lips with his napkin. He stood, crossed over to
her and held out his hand. “Dance with me.”

“To
what music?”

“Get
up, princess.”

With
a sigh she rose from her seat and allowed him to lead her a few steps from
their table. He pulled her to his body. Humming softly, he swept her into a
waltz. She wanted to stay pissed at him but body to body with his mesmerizing
voice, she couldn’t. In no time at all he had her laughing as he dipped and
turned her, making her forget. Time stood still and she couldn’t imagine being
anywhere else but with him. She breathed everything about him in.

“I
apologize for upsetting you.” He brushed a kiss across her lips, and tucked a
flyaway wisp of hair behind her ear.

“I
asked for it. Not your fault, I wasn’t prepared for the outcome. I had no idea
you secretly observed me for so long.” She ducked her head to whisper in his
ear. This close she fell into his knowing gaze, connecting with him soul to
soul.

“There
is nothing wrong with wanting to have things right, until you’re so blindsided
you’re afraid no one will love you for getting things wrong.” He pressed a kiss
to her forehead as they swayed to their own music. After he dipped her, he
kissed her with a tenderness she hadn’t known he possessed. Sweet and gentle,
two things he was normally not.

“You
ready to go bowl? Let’s bowl, let’s bowl and rock and roll.”

She
broke from his arms laughing so hard her eyes watered. “That was so corn dog of
you and you butchered the line of lyrics. Cheese much?”

“Every
summer that movie came on and always on movie night. Your mom called all of us
over to suffer for two hours and then
Grease
trivia.”

“I
swear
Grease 2
is her favorite
movie.”

“Yeah,
I still watch it at least once a year. Fun times.” They returned to the table.
Jackson picked up the black bill holder, opened his wallet and paid.

“You’re
paying?”

“We’re
on our first date, of course. What, you thought because I brought you to the
place I own I don’t need to pay?”

“No.
I just thought well you own it…”

“Princess,
I still have to pay.” He shook his head and led her out of the restaurant.
“Raul should be here. He knew to come back after he dropped off your things.”

They
located Raul and smiled for the cameras. Jackson dropped a kiss on her lips and
waited while his driver opened the door for him to usher her in. Once settled
in the car, she turned to him. “Dinner was fabulous. Thank you.”